Tasers a shocking addition to Winnipeg police arsenal

September 28, 2006
CBC News

Starting Friday, Taser guns will be added to Winnipeg police arsenals as another "less-lethal force option" along with batons and pepper spray.

The hand-held guns, which police say use 50,000 volts of electricity at low wattages, can temporarily paralyze even the most resilient criminals.

Every officer has been trained in using the device, but not all officers will be issued with one, said Sgt. Kelly Dennison. Instead, there will be one Taser gun for each cruiser car.

"On that day, when you go to work and you sign on and you go out into your cruiser car, you will actually have the Taser on your belt," he said Thursday.

"So one member of that unit will be carrying that Taser with them to perform their duties throughout their entire shift."

Dennison would not specify in what situations an officer will use the device, although he would say it is meant to be used on violent individuals in stable situations.

"I think officers are going to have to individually assess each 'use of force' situation that they get themselves into," he said.

"And upon that, they're going to have to make the determination for themselves: what is the proper use of force to use? The Taser that our officers are going to have with them now is just another tool for them."

Dennison emphasized that a Taser gun is not a substitute for handguns.